Great Northern Diver, Harlequin Duck and Barrow's Goldeneye, all of which
nest nowhere else in Europe

Nesting shorebirds such as Grey and Red-necked Phalaropes

And some of the world's most spectacular seabird cliffs with colonies of Puffins,
Black, Brunnich's and Common Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Fulmars

All in some of the least densely populated and wildest scenery in the world,
where vast ice caps, glaciers and snow-capped volcanoes rise above boiling mud pools, geysers and waterfalls

This account deals with Iceland during the northern summer. The best time to see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) is during the
northern winter, especially around the autumn and spring equinoxes in northern Iceland where the skies are usually clearer. During recent northern winters,
particularly in February and March and especially during early March, large shoals of Herring off the north coast of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, especially
in the Kolgrafafjordur fjord near Grundarfjordur, have attracted pods of Killer Whales and White-beaked Dolphins, as well as a few Humpback Whales, all of
which can be seen from shore (for example in the case of Killer Whales, moving under the bridge across Kolgrafafjordur) or on organized boat trips. Birds
present at this time include Harlequin Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye and Gyr Falcon, as well as Iceland Gull (which is scarce to rare during the northern
summer).

MammalsMinke Whale, White-beaked Dolphin, Harbour Porpoise, and Common and Grey Seals.
Also a chance of Blue, Humpback and Killer Whales, and Arctic Fox (especially off the beaten track in the far
northwest, in Hornstrandir NR for example).

Latrabjarg One of the most impressive seabird colonies in the world with hundreds of
thousands of birds including tens of thousands of Puffins, on cliffs which run for 14 km (9 miles) and rise to
441 m (1447 ft). Also a chance of Arctic Fox.

Hrisey (Island) Ptarmigans are so common here some nest in 'gardens'. Also confiding are
nesting shorebirds and the Arctic Tern colony is one of the largest in Europe.

Boat Trips out of Husavik Minke Whale. Also a chance of Blue and Humpback Whales, and
White-beaked Dolphin.

Myvatn (Midge Lake) About 10,000 pairs of up to 16 species of duck nest here including
Harlequin Duck (mainly females, on adjacent River Laxa. Most males are usually around the coast), Barrow's Goldeneye,
Scaup and Long-tailed Duck. Also Gyr Falcon, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Phalarope and Slavonian Grebe, as well
as hot springs, boiling mud pools and geysers. Also a chance of Long-tailed Skua nearby.

Best Times for Birds and other wildlife in Iceland

During the northern summer the peak time for birds is late June-early July. This coincides with the peak time for
wild flowers which is from mid-June to mid-July and, unfortunately, the peak time for biting insects which can be a
torture through the months of June, July and August. There is usually light 24 hours a day during the months of May,
June and July.

Summer temperatures are cool, ranging between 4°C and 16°C, and the weather can change quickly so warm, windproof
and waterproof clothing is recommended, especially for boat trips since it is always much colder at sea.

Recommended Bird Books etc. for Iceland

Whale Watching in Iceland by A Bjorgvinsson and H Lugmayr. JPV Publishers, 2002.

Birding and Wildlife Trip Reports for Iceland

Many trip reports, some for Iceland, are posted on the websites listed here. On some of these
websites some reports are independent and some are posted by tour companies who organize tours to
Iceland. These tour companies and others also post their own reports on their websites,
which are listed under 'Some Organized Tours to Iceland' below.

Local bird and wildlife guides in Iceland

The costs of organized tours partly reflect the quality of the tour leaders.
Some leaders are certainly better than others and many companies claim their leaders are
the best but even the best rely at least to some extent on the exceptional
skills of the local guides they employ. If you are travelling independently,
employing such local guides will greatly increase your chances of seeing the
wildlife you wish to see.

Accommodation for birders in Iceland

Some Organized Tours for birds and other wildlife to Iceland

There are many tour companies who organize tours to see mammals, birds, other
wildlife and other natural wonders. The cost of these tours vary considerably
according to such variables as the airlines used, the number of days the tours
last, the number of sites visited, the number of people in the group (an
important consideration if you wish to see such wildlife as rainforest mammals
and birds), the number of tour leaders, the standard of accommodation and
transport, and the percentage profit the company hopes to make. Generally, where
the number of days tours last and the number of sites visited are similar, the
cheapest tours are those that use the cheapest airlines, accommodation and local
transport, that have the largest groups with the least number of leaders, and
that make the least amount of profit. The most expensive tours tend to be those
which are exceptionally long, use the most expensive accommodation (ridiculously
lavish in some cases, even for single nights) and which make the most profit.
Some tour costs partly reflect the quality of the tour leaders. Some leaders are
certainly better than others and many companies claim their leaders are
the best but even the best rely at least to some extent on the exceptional
skills of the local guides they employ.

While tour companies organize tours with set itineraries many also organize custom
tours for individuals and private groups who instead of taking a tour with a set
itinerary want to follow their own itinerary to suit their own personal tastes,
whether it be mammals, birds, other wildlife, other natural wonders or even man-made
attractions, or a mixture of them all. Many organized tours with set itineraries are
also fast-paced and target as many species as possible, whether they are mammals, birds
or other wildlife or everything, which usually leaves little time to enjoy the best
sites and individual species, but on a custom tour those taking part can specify the
pace and the sites and species they wish to concentrate on. Custom tours also suit
people who like to travel with people they already know, rather than with a group of
strangers, and they are popular with people with partners with different interests.
Individuals, partners and small groups will almost certainly have to pay more for a
custom tour than an organized tour with a set itinerary but a large group of friends
may be able to travel for less than the price quoted for a set tour.

Tour companies who run organized tours to Iceland include the following. Many of
these also offer custom tours.